312 * MAMMALIA—HORSE. 
Of those which have returned to the wild state, such as the numerous — 
herds of South America, the appearance is not prepossessing, according 
to the ideas which have been formed of the symmetry of the domestic 
varieties. : . 
The different races of the horse are numerous; most of the priacipal coun- 
tries in the world possessing breeds ‘peculiar to themselves. But the : 
Arabian race has long been considered as the noblest of the species, andas 
combining the qualities of endurance, vigor, and temper, ina higher degree = 
- than any of the other varieties. As breeders of horses have ascertained | 
that the qualities of the Arabian horse may be perpetuated in his descend- 
ants, in the countries of Europe, where attention is paid to the raising of ~ 
this valuable animal, for various purposes, the deterioration which a north- , 
ern climate induces in a native of warmer latitudes, is counteracted by 
crossing with the original breed. From the importation of the pure breed 
of Arabia into Europe, and the different crossings of these and their de- 
scendants with the native breeds, has arisen all that variety of appearance 
and qualities of the horse, which fits them for heavy draughts, the plough, 
or the saddle. , 
It is in England chiefly, however, that the cultivation and education of | 
the horse has been earried to its greatest refinement, and in-France are 
lueal races, admirably adapted to the different purposes which agriculture, 
or commere, or luxury may demand. The first is the race horse, immedi- 
,ately proceeding from an Arabian or Barbary stallion, with an English mare 
already crossed with a Barb or Arab, in the first degree, or the result-of two 
crossings in the same degree. This breed is termed first blood, or the 
nearest possible to the original stock; and in the quality of speed it is not 
probable that itcan ever be exceeded. The ‘next is the hunter, the result 
of crossing a stallion of the first blood with a mare of a degree less near the 
original source. ‘The third, is the cross between the hunter and the more 
common mares, which, uniting the stronger limbs and heavier bodies of the _ 
indigenous races to the qualities of the Arabian, produce the British car- 
riage horses; and the great dray horse, whose gigantic proportions and. 
immense power of draught can scarcely be surpassed, are the prodice of this 
Jast with the strongest mares of the country breed. And it is a curious 
circumstance that, in the mixture of all these races, the influence of the 
Arab blood is observable, either in the conformation of some peculiar parts, 
or the preservation of some peculiar qualities. The Persian, Barbary, and 
Turkish horses are those which come nearest to the Arabian in conforma- 
tion and qualities, and the Spanish horses long enjoyed a high character in 
Europe, probably from the breed being kept up by the intermixture of the 
horses of Barbary. In France are numerous varieties, and most of them 
very serviceable animals. The other European races, it would be impossi- 
ble to enumerate here. ‘ 
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